Electrically operated razor



Dec. 10, 1940. FQRSTER 2,224,342

7 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED RAZOR Filed Sept. 17, 19:57 2 Sheet sSheet 1 Dec. 10, 1940.

H. L, FORSTER I ELECTRICALLY OPERATED RAZOR Filed Sept. 1'7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 fliforngy.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in shaving devices or razors, but more particularly to an electric razor.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- 5 vide an electric razor which is so designed and constructed as to operate smoothly and silently and whose cutting-face is so shaped as to dry shave cleanly and closely all parts of the face efficiently without irritating the skin.

10 Another object is to provide a razor of this character which is provided with novel and emcient means for actuating its relatively movable cutter members.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 15 vide an electrically-operated ramr which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, which is light in weight and which is composed of a minimum number of parts not liable to get out of order.

20 Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

25 Figure l is a perspective view of the electric razor embodying my invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken substantially in the plane of line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken so in the plane of line 3-4, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view or the means for actuating the reciprocatory cutter. Figure 5 is a sep d p r p c ve view or the stationary and relatively movable. cutter members.

35 Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The working parts of the razor are encased within a housing or casing ll made of hard rubber or other well known composition material and 40 so shaped as to easily fit the hand of the user during the act of shaving. Arranged within the rear portion of the housing is an electrically-operated mechanism or motivating unit for actuating the cutter assembly, such unit being indi- 5 cated generally by the numeral H and being adapted for connection by a suitable wire and litting l2 with the socket of a domestic service supply line.

Arranged at the front end of the casing l and so borne by a plate I! secured to the adjoining bottom side 01' the casing is a stationary channelshaped cutter member ll which extends transversely of and projects laterally from and below the lower front end of the casing adjacent the 65 corner thereof, in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 and which is provided with a plurality of transverse slots IE to form cutting edges. By preference, the plan contour of this stationary cutter is arcuate, being convex on its front side and concave on its rear side, the degree of curvature being determined from a point centrally of the housing and rearwardly of the cutter, as shown in Figure 3. Cooperating with this stationary cutter for reciprocatory movement in the channeled portion thereof, is a movable cutter IS which is preterably solid in cross section and of like transverse curvature as the stationary cutter, being provided with transverse slots ll forming cutting edges cooperating with those of the stationary cutter. This reciprocatory cutter is mounted on a pivoted actuating arm I8 extending rearwardly therefrom and which is disposed centrally over the plate I! and fixedly secured at [9 to the lower end of an oscillating pivot-pin suitably journaled in a block 2| secured within 20 the casing between the cutters I 4, l8 and the cutter-actuating unit H. When the pivot-pin 20 is oscillated back and forth it transmits a like motion to the movable cutter l6 relative to the stationary cutter H, the curvature of the cutters being described from the axis of the pivotpin.

The motivating mechanism .for oscillating the pivot-pin 20 and the movable cutter Ii preferably consists of a magnetic coil 22 having a laminated core 23. Cooperating with the pole piece 24 of this magnetic coil is an armature 25 having an arm 28 extending forwardly therefrom which is fixedly connected to the pivot-pin 2D in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 4 so that when the armature is actuated an oscillating movement is transmitted to the pivot-pin. Included in the circuit of the magnetic coil:,which'is connected to the service fitting I2, are make and break contacts 21, 28, the contact 21 being borne by and 40 insulated from the armature-arm 26 and the companion contact 22 being mounted on a bracket 20 secured to the pivot-block 2|, as shown in Figure 3. Connected to the armature 25 is a flat spring so which is disposed substantially in the plane of the armature-arm 26, being notched at 3| for this purpose. the front end of this spring being arranged in alining slots 32 formed in the pivot-block 2| as depicted at Figures 2 and 4.

This spring provides lor the return stroke of the armature after being attracted to the magnetic coil. If desired, maximum vefiiciency of operation of the make and break contacts 21, 28 may be effected through an adJustable set screw 33 apgs for adjusting the conopening 35, whereby the rays of light from the lamp 35 are directed onto the face of the user during shaving.

By preference, the cross sectional contour of the cutters i4 and I6 is as shown in Figure 5, wherein it will be noted that the front face and contiguous bottom face of the cutter l4 are uniformly convexly curved while its back wall or face extends sharply toward the bottom side of the plate [3 at a substantially obtuse angle thereto. The bearing faces of the movable cutter I 6 are similarly shaped and by this construction in conjunction with the arcuate transverse curvature of .the cutters it is possible to conveniently and efliciently shave the jaw and other bony portions of the face and neck as well as the fleshy portions, the cross sectional contour of the faceengaging cutter readily adapting itself to these facial contours to the end that a close shave can be effected.

In operation, when the razor is connected to the service line, the electro-magnetic motivating unit H is operated to effect the rapid oscillation of the pivot-pin 20 and thence the like movementof the reciprocatory cutter IS, the movement of this cutter relative to the stationary one shearing off the beard in an obvious manner. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the transverse slots l of the stationary cutter terminate at the lower edge thereof and the rear wall of this cutter is provided with an opening or slot 31 through which the severed hairs are adapted to escape.

I claim as my invention: v

1. A razor of the character described, comprising a housing, a stationary cutter member applied to said housing, a reciprocatory cutter guided in said stationary cutter, a pivoted actuating arm for said reciprocatory cutter, and electromagnetic means including a magnetic coil having a pole piece, an armature disposed lengthwise between said pole piece and said arm andhaving one end connected to the pivot of said arm-for actuating the latter and said reciprocatorycutter, make and break contacts in the circuitof .said coil and governed by said armature, and aspring connected to the armature for effecting its return stroke.-

2. A razor of the character described, comprising a housing, cooperating stationary. "and movable cutters applied thereto, and means for actuating said movable cutter including an electromagnetic unit having a magnetic coil, an armature having one end thereof in endwise relation to the coil, make and break contacts in the circuit of said coil, an oscillating pivot for the other end of said armature rendered operative in response to the movements of the latter, a flat spring substantially co-extensive with the armature and connected at one end to the latter and at its opposite end to the housing adjacent said pivot, and a connection between said pivot and said movable cutter for transmitting motion thereto.

3. A razor of the character described, comprising a housing, a stationary cutter member applied to said housing, a reciprocatory cutter guided in said stationary cutter, a pivoted actuating arm for said reciprocatory cutter, electriprising a housing, a stationary cutter member applied to said housing, a reciprocatory cutter guided in said stationary cutter, a pivoted actuating arm for said reciprocatory cutter, electromagnetic means for oscillating said arm, and a pivot-block disposed between said arm and said electro-magnetic means and having an oscillating pivot journaled therein and to which theactuating armis connected for actuation thereby, said electro-magnetic means including an armature fixed at one end to said oscillating pivot and a spring connected at one end to said pivotblock and at its other end to the free end of said armature.

5. A razor of the character described, comprising a housing, a stationary cutter member extending transversely of and projecting laterally from one end of said housing and of a cross section to provide front and bottom cutting faces and an obliquely-disposed rear face, said cutting faces being substantially convexly-curved in contiguous blending fashion and having transverse slots therein to form cutting edges, a recipro catory cutter of substantially like cross section guided in said stationary cutter and having transverse slots therein forming cutting edges cooperating with those of the stationary cutter, and means for actuating said reciprocatory cutter.

6. A razor of the character described, comprising a housing, a stationary channel-shaped cutter extending transversely of and projecting laterallyfrom one end of said housing and having transverse slots therein to form cutting edges,

said cutter being curved uniformly transversely of the housing tqprovide a convex front face and a concave rear. face, the cross-sectional shape of the cutter being such as to provide convexlycurved, contiguous front and bottom faces anda straight-obliquely disposed .rear face, a reciprocatingcutter of a cross-section like and guided in said stationary cutter and having transverse slots therein forming. cutting edges cooperating with those of [the stationary cutter, and means for actuatingsaid reciprocatory cutter.

'7. .A razor. of the character described, com- ;prising a stationary cutter and a relatively reciprocating cutter, said cutters being operatively arranged one within the other and being of a cross section to provide front and bottom cutting faces and an obliquely-disposed rear face, said cutting faces being substantially convexly-curved in contiguous blending fashion and having transverse slots therein to form cutting edges, the rear face of said stationary cutter having an opening therein registering with the slots of the reciprocating cutter for the escape of the severed hairs.

HARRY L. FORSTER. 

